Former FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani has responded to accusations of being a “Kaizer Chiefs hater” after his recent match assessments, which often seemed critical of the club.
Following the Soweto Derby, in which Orlando Pirates secured a dramatic win, some Chiefs fans took to social media, claiming Hlungwani made an incorrect call when awarding a penalty against their team. In response, Hlungwani clarified his stance on SoccerZone, explaining that the penalty decision was correct.
“I see a lot of people saying I hate Chiefs, but I have no reason to do that,” Hlungwani said. “If I hated Chiefs, why would I have given a penalty against Pirates in 2021 when Olisa Ndah fouled Khama Billiat in the box at the last minute?”
Hlungwani further defended his position, recalling a time when he stood up for Chiefs in a discussion about penalties. “If I hated Chiefs, why did I support them when Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker accused Chiefs of winning through penalties and red cards? I explained that those penalties were deserved,” he added.
The veteran referee also responded to claims about his disciplinary record, denying the allegations that he was suspended 28 times during his career. He clarified that he was only once stopped after a match between Polokwane City and Maritzburg United.
Hlungwani also gave his opinion on a controversial decision from last year when Kaizer Chiefs’ last-minute equalizer against Mamelodi Sundowns was ruled out for a push. He agreed with the referee’s decision, stating that the Chiefs player, Miguel Inacio, had indeed made a push before the goal.
Hlungwani emphasized that he welcomes criticism and believes it helps him grow. “If they ask me to step aside, I will accept it and apologize. I don’t hate criticism,” he concluded.
